29 August 2010
22 August 2010
15 August 2010
08 August 2010
01 August 2010
25 July 2010
18 July 2010
11 July 2010
04 July 2010
27 June 2010
20 June 2010
13 June 2010
06 June 2010
30 May 2010
23 May 2010
16 May 2010
09 May 2010
02 May 2010
25 April 2010
18 April 2010
11 April 2010
03 April 2010
28 March 2010
21 March 2010
14 March 2010
07 March 2010
28 February 2010
21 February 2010
14 February 2010
07 February 2010
22 August 2010
15 August 2010
08 August 2010
01 August 2010
25 July 2010
18 July 2010
11 July 2010
04 July 2010
27 June 2010
20 June 2010
13 June 2010
06 June 2010
30 May 2010
23 May 2010
16 May 2010
09 May 2010
02 May 2010
25 April 2010
18 April 2010
11 April 2010
03 April 2010
28 March 2010
21 March 2010
14 March 2010
07 March 2010
28 February 2010
21 February 2010
14 February 2010
07 February 2010
This week's singles are a rather fine bunch indeed, making one wonder if Christmas really has come early. Bathe in the goodness before X-Factor mania hits!
The Cribs - 'We Share The Same Skies'
If you’ve heard of The Cribs then you’ll already be well aware of this standout track from Ignore The Ignorant, their first album since being bolstered by the masterful Johnny Marr. If you’ve not crossed paths with the band before then you’ll probably have been tearing your hair out for the last 4 months wondering what that music is behind the highlights on Match of The Day. The answer, my football crazy friends, is this. Buy the album, it’s a masterpiece; Britian used to be famous for building bridges and railways, now we produce bands like The Cribs. God bless the Queen Mum! (SB)
Mumford & Sons - 'Winter Winds'
So here’s the dilemma, you love Christmas but you can’t abide those endless festive compilations that you know you’ll be subjected to. Mumford & Sons are here to help and show you that the spirit of the season can be captured without resorting to the Mistletoe and Wine. ‘Winter Winds’ resurrects the oft ignored genre of the skiffle sea shanty and is perfect for a fireside singalong just after the tip of your nose goes all Rudolph from the vintage Port and Blue Nun cocktails. (SB)
The Pilots - 'OneTwoThree'
Crikey! This is something a bit different. Imagine The Police in reggae mode trying to cover 'At Home He Feels Like A Tourist' with The Clientele on backing vocals then you will have some idea of where they are coming from. It’s surprisingly fab.(SB)
Straight Lines - 'Versus The Allegiance'
Another in a long line of young rock bands who’ve heard At The Drive In and decided to photocopy the blueprint. It’s loud, energetic and, hey, it’s relatively melodic. It’s not great but it’s better than most of their peers. (SB)
The Drums - 'I Felt Stupid'
Another slice of summertime from one of this year’s most exciting new bands. Waves of Surf-pop merge with 80s indie to wash up treasures beyond belief onto these shores; whilst they ask “Have I lived my life too selfishly baby?”. Who cares? Even if they were caught interfering with swans, as long as they produce such wondrous music they can do what they like in my book. (AM)
A Place To Bury Strangers - 'Keep Slipping Away'
Another strong single from the noise loving New Yorkers' fleshed out second album. Sporting some thumping dance remixes that are bound to keep sales of eye-liner high for all the Christmas goth discos. (AM)
Asobi Sesku - 'Layers'
There’s a lovely festive vibe to this single with angelic voices drifting over sleigh bells. If you spot Santa shoegazing on your roof this year, you’ll know what he’s been listening too. (AM)
Race Horses - 'Man In My Mind' EP
I don’t know where this was recorded, but it sounds like they had one hell of a party! It bounds around schizophrenically between ideas and styles in the best possible way, as if they have so many ideas that they are excited to cram in. It’s a frantic rock and roll number featuring glockenspiels tumbling down stairs and plates flying out of cupboards. Except big things from them in 2010 in whatever direction they choose to take. (AM)
Starkey ft Badness - 'OK Luv'
Starkey’s digital grooves provide an impressive backdrop to Badness’ slick lyrical flow. His speedy style and confident vocals bounce along waves of oscillating synths that could have come straight from Out Run. Impressive stuff. (AM)
Au Revoir Simone - 'Another Likely Story'
A delicate drum pattern underpinning a very simple melody allows the girls' vocals to take centre stage. Gorgeous enough to draw dad’s attention away from Nigella cooking sprouts in a red negligee. (AM)
El Dog - 'Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow'
Another week, another pointless Christmas song; only this time made all the more pointless by the fact that it's a cover of a true Christmas classic. El Dog unnecessarily tries to rock the song up during the chorus but it just turns out a complete mess. Make It Stop, Make It Stop, Make It Stop. (IS)
Uffie - 'Pop The Glock'
I bought this back in 2006 and it was one of my favourite singles that year. So with her album Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans due out next year there is much celebration to had by spinning this on the turntable again. This sassy and sexy single is an utterly sublime heavily affected master-class in pop. Plus it's a real grower. With the abundance of female electro-backed artists storming the charts Uffie could be their new queen in 2010. (AM)
The Soldiers - 'A Soldier's Christmas Letter'
No alarms and no surprises. "Seasonal charidee single", blah blah blah. "Low budget soft focus video" yadda yadda. "25p per copy to the Army Benevolent Fund", thumbs up, respect, etc....'Having said that', if there's a cat in hell's chance of it ruining Satan Cowell's Xmas No1 stronghold, we should all buy ten copies. At least. (MJ)
Crimea X - 'Chorne More' EP
Fans of Lindstrøm and Kris Menace will already be acquainted with space disco. (Like dancing, but don't like breaking a sweat?) 'Chorne More' EP comprises of three gently euphoric tracks, each - bizarrely - named after a famous Russian. Damn groovy it is, too. (JD)
Single of the Week
Husky Rescue - 'We Shall Burn Bright'
We had a shout this week for The Drums, but I'm going to give SOTW to Husky Rescue, well, just because I can. 'We Shall Burn Bright' is a taster of the third album from the underexposed Finns and feels, appropriately enough, like a bracing sleigh ride through a magical forest. You can download it for free from www.husky-rescue.com. (JD)
The Cribs - 'We Share The Same Skies'
If you’ve heard of The Cribs then you’ll already be well aware of this standout track from Ignore The Ignorant, their first album since being bolstered by the masterful Johnny Marr. If you’ve not crossed paths with the band before then you’ll probably have been tearing your hair out for the last 4 months wondering what that music is behind the highlights on Match of The Day. The answer, my football crazy friends, is this. Buy the album, it’s a masterpiece; Britian used to be famous for building bridges and railways, now we produce bands like The Cribs. God bless the Queen Mum! (SB)
Mumford & Sons - 'Winter Winds'
So here’s the dilemma, you love Christmas but you can’t abide those endless festive compilations that you know you’ll be subjected to. Mumford & Sons are here to help and show you that the spirit of the season can be captured without resorting to the Mistletoe and Wine. ‘Winter Winds’ resurrects the oft ignored genre of the skiffle sea shanty and is perfect for a fireside singalong just after the tip of your nose goes all Rudolph from the vintage Port and Blue Nun cocktails. (SB)
The Pilots - 'OneTwoThree'
Crikey! This is something a bit different. Imagine The Police in reggae mode trying to cover 'At Home He Feels Like A Tourist' with The Clientele on backing vocals then you will have some idea of where they are coming from. It’s surprisingly fab.(SB)
Straight Lines - 'Versus The Allegiance'
Another in a long line of young rock bands who’ve heard At The Drive In and decided to photocopy the blueprint. It’s loud, energetic and, hey, it’s relatively melodic. It’s not great but it’s better than most of their peers. (SB)
The Drums - 'I Felt Stupid'
Another slice of summertime from one of this year’s most exciting new bands. Waves of Surf-pop merge with 80s indie to wash up treasures beyond belief onto these shores; whilst they ask “Have I lived my life too selfishly baby?”. Who cares? Even if they were caught interfering with swans, as long as they produce such wondrous music they can do what they like in my book. (AM)
A Place To Bury Strangers - 'Keep Slipping Away'
Another strong single from the noise loving New Yorkers' fleshed out second album. Sporting some thumping dance remixes that are bound to keep sales of eye-liner high for all the Christmas goth discos. (AM)
Asobi Sesku - 'Layers'
There’s a lovely festive vibe to this single with angelic voices drifting over sleigh bells. If you spot Santa shoegazing on your roof this year, you’ll know what he’s been listening too. (AM)
Race Horses - 'Man In My Mind' EP
I don’t know where this was recorded, but it sounds like they had one hell of a party! It bounds around schizophrenically between ideas and styles in the best possible way, as if they have so many ideas that they are excited to cram in. It’s a frantic rock and roll number featuring glockenspiels tumbling down stairs and plates flying out of cupboards. Except big things from them in 2010 in whatever direction they choose to take. (AM)
Starkey ft Badness - 'OK Luv'
Starkey’s digital grooves provide an impressive backdrop to Badness’ slick lyrical flow. His speedy style and confident vocals bounce along waves of oscillating synths that could have come straight from Out Run. Impressive stuff. (AM)
Au Revoir Simone - 'Another Likely Story'
A delicate drum pattern underpinning a very simple melody allows the girls' vocals to take centre stage. Gorgeous enough to draw dad’s attention away from Nigella cooking sprouts in a red negligee. (AM)
El Dog - 'Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow'
Another week, another pointless Christmas song; only this time made all the more pointless by the fact that it's a cover of a true Christmas classic. El Dog unnecessarily tries to rock the song up during the chorus but it just turns out a complete mess. Make It Stop, Make It Stop, Make It Stop. (IS)
Uffie - 'Pop The Glock'
I bought this back in 2006 and it was one of my favourite singles that year. So with her album Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans due out next year there is much celebration to had by spinning this on the turntable again. This sassy and sexy single is an utterly sublime heavily affected master-class in pop. Plus it's a real grower. With the abundance of female electro-backed artists storming the charts Uffie could be their new queen in 2010. (AM)
The Soldiers - 'A Soldier's Christmas Letter'
No alarms and no surprises. "Seasonal charidee single", blah blah blah. "Low budget soft focus video" yadda yadda. "25p per copy to the Army Benevolent Fund", thumbs up, respect, etc....'Having said that', if there's a cat in hell's chance of it ruining Satan Cowell's Xmas No1 stronghold, we should all buy ten copies. At least. (MJ)
Crimea X - 'Chorne More' EP
Fans of Lindstrøm and Kris Menace will already be acquainted with space disco. (Like dancing, but don't like breaking a sweat?) 'Chorne More' EP comprises of three gently euphoric tracks, each - bizarrely - named after a famous Russian. Damn groovy it is, too. (JD)
Husky Rescue - 'We Shall Burn Bright'
We had a shout this week for The Drums, but I'm going to give SOTW to Husky Rescue, well, just because I can. 'We Shall Burn Bright' is a taster of the third album from the underexposed Finns and feels, appropriately enough, like a bracing sleigh ride through a magical forest. You can download it for free from www.husky-rescue.com. (JD)
